Free The Cowboy's Homecoming by Brenda Minton Page A

tear-filled eyes.
    Jeremy reached into the truck for his hat and pushed it down on his head, calling himself a few choice names. Beth was standing in front of him, teary-eyed and tired. She didn’t need an info dump.
    â€œBeth, I’m sorry.”
    She shook her head. “No, I am. It was my fault for pushing you.”
    â€œNo, it wasn’t. You said what everyone else has been thinking and maybe you’re right. But I guess that doesn’t mean I’m going to change my mind.”
    â€œI know and I do understand.” And then she smiled, bright as summer sunshine after a storm. A storm like the one they’d just been through. “But I am going to stop you.”
    â€œI don’t know how. It’s my land and I’m all set. I just have to get the final permit from planning and zoning.”
    Her brows shot up and her expression changed, making him wonder. He had a bad feeling. No one knew small-town politics better than he did. He’d been dealing with the city of Dawson for weeks, trying to get things squared away so he could move forward.
    â€œWe should go.” Right, they should go. And he figured he should plan on a battle for the church.
    â€œI can drive you to your house now, if you want.”
    â€œMy truck is at the church.”
    â€œGotcha.”
    The ambulance was pulling away. As it headed down the drive, a few trucks pulled up. Jeremy knew it was time to hit the road as Tim Cooper and several of his sons got out of one of their big Ford F-350s.
    â€œLet’s hit the road.” Jeremy walked around to the tailgate of his truck. He’d left tools out that he needed to store in the box before they left.
    Before he could get them all in the toolbox, someone called his name. He turned as Reese Cooper headed in his direction. Tim Cooper stood next to the truck Reese had gotten out of. Jeremy nodded at the other man. They shared DNA, that was it.
    The day after Jeremy’s mother interrupted services at Back Street Church to tell the world who her son’s father was, Tim Cooper had offered Jeremy a big check. Not an apology, just a check. Jeremy had ripped the paper into pieces and walked away. He’d made the grand announcement that he’d do just fine on his own. He’d gotten a scholarship to ride on a college rodeo team. He’d already made some money riding bulls. He didn’t need anything the Coopers had.
    He skipped another glance in the direction of Tim Cooper before he switched back and focused on Reese. At one time he had needed family. By the time he turned eighteen that need had been left in the dust.
    Reese stopped in front of him. Younger by just a couple of years, Reese was one of the more serious members of the Cooper clan. He didn’t have Jackson’s attitude or ladies’-man personality. He wasn’t a clown like Travis. He wasn’t full of himself like Blake. He wasn’t nearly as likable, in Jeremy’s opinion, as Jesse.
    â€œHow’s Mark?” Reese rocked back on his heels a little.
    â€œBroken leg.”
    Reese nodded. He shot a nervous glance in the direction of his father and then landed his direct gaze backon Jeremy. “Need some help getting a shelter set up at Back Street?”
    Jeremy shrugged. “I don’t have a clue, Reese. I’m not sure who all will be there or what needs to be done. I’m heading that way now to see where to start.”
    â€œWe’ll be over to help.” It was a statement, not a question. The younger man didn’t leave room for objections. Jeremy smiled a little easier. Reese Cooper was his half brother. He respected him for cowboying up and not backing down.
    â€œThat’s fine, Reese.” Jeremy shot a look past Reese, in the direction of Tim and a couple of his sons. “Tell your dad he can stay home.”
    Reese opened his mouth and closed it pretty quickly. “Sure, I’ll tell him. Hey, I joined the army. I’m